20/03/2025
𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗛𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹
Elanora Heights Community Preschool is deeply concerned about what we saw in the recent Four Corners report, which has highlighted serious issues in some privately owned long day care services where profits are prioritised over children's safety and wellbeing.
We understand that many families may have concerns after viewing this, and we share those concerns. We want to reassure you that children’s safety and wellbeing is our highest priority. To ensure a safe, nurturing, and high-quality learning environment, we have strong safeguards in place:
☑️ 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱, 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳: Our early childhood teachers and educators are highly experienced and qualified. We have long-serving teachers, educators and staff, and our Director has 15 years of experience at our preschool. Together, we are committed to ensuring that all policies, procedures, and child safety measures are always followed to the highest standard.
☑️ 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: All of our teachers and educators undergo child protection training and complete annual refresher courses to ensure their knowledge is current and they are fully equipped to keep children safe.
☑️ 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗶𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: Every staff member at our preschool is fully trained in First Aid, CPR, and Anaphylaxis, ensuring we're always prepared to respond effectively in emergencies. We also complete annual refresher training for CPR to maintain our skills and stay up to date on best practices.
☑️ 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀: All educators, teachers, staff, board members, volunteers, regular allied health professionals, incursion visitors, and students are required to have a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC) to work with children at our preschool. We verify these checks online through the Office of the Children’s Guardian portal before anyone begins work or visits our service.
☑️ 𝗢𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Our teachers and educators are committed to continuous learning and growth, participating in professional development training each term to stay up to date with the latest early childhood best practices.
☑️ 𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Teaching children about their bodies, consent, and safety is embedded in our program. Our teachers and educators have attended training in Body Safety: Exploring Protection, Respect, and Consent with Young Children to ensure we empower children to protect their bodies and privacy. Using correct body part names, including private parts, is a key part of our approach to body safety and empowerment.
☑️ 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝘀: As part of our ongoing practice, we maintain high staff-to-child ratios to ensure your child receives the education and care they deserve. We also employ additional inclusion support staff as needed to meet the safety, supervision, and individual needs of all children, ensuring that each child is fully supported.
☑️ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁: Unlike some for-profit centres that prioritise revenue, we are a non-profit, community-owned organisation with almost 60 years of commitment to child safety and affordable early learning. Our funding goes directly back into care, resources, and maintaining a safe and nurturing environment — because children's safety should never come second to profit!
We take all complaints and concerns seriously and are committed to addressing any issues promptly and transparently to ensure all families feel comfortable and confident with the education and care their children are receiving Elanora Heights Community Preschool.
For more information or if you have any concerns, you can also contact the 𝗡𝗦𝗪 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟴𝟬𝟬 𝟲𝟭𝟵 𝟭𝟭𝟯.
You can watch the full Four Corners investigation here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-17/betrayal-of-trust/105063150
